Role of lifestyle factors of mothers on the incidence of idiopathic hyperbilirubinemia (jaundice) of their neonates in Tehran

Hyperbilirubinemia is a neonatal ubiquitous condition but the role of life style factors and endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) on the incidence of this globally prevalent symptoms remained unclear. This study aimed to determine the role of EDCs and other predisposition factors in this regard.

At first, 120 mothers and infants (60 pairs as control and 60 pairs as cases) were conveniently sampled after delivery and before their discharge. The mothers were interviewed and their case records were reviewed for risk factors for neonatal jaundice using SPSS software 24. We used studentchr('39')s t test for parametric and Chi-square test for non-parametric analysis of variables. Risk factors calculated by Mann-Whitney U test and p- values< 0.05, OR>1 and CI> 1 were considered as significant difference and jaundice risk factors respectively.

Out of different demographical and lifestyle factors including exposure to outdoor and indoor chemicals, extensive exposure to air fresheners (OR=16.319, 95%CI=2.06-129.292, p=0.001) and detergents (OR=4.958, 95%CI=2.074-11.852, p=0.0001) were considered as two major life style predisposing factors of idiopathic hyperbilirubinemia.

According to the results obtained from this study, unhealthy life style and endocrine disrupting chemicals consumption could significantly increase the risk of jaundice but further animal and clinical studies are necessary to find out their direct associations.